Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector
Abstract
A double-helix Boron-10 powder detector having intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency comparable to 36'' long, 2-in diameter, 2-bar Helium-3 detectors, and which can be used to replace such detectors for use in portal monitoring, is described. An embodiment of the detector includes a metallic plate coated with Boron-10 powder for generating alpha and Lithium-7 particles responsive to neutrons impinging thereon supported by insulators affixed to at least two opposing edges; a grounded first wire wound in a helical manner around two opposing insulators; and a second wire having a smaller diameter than that of the first wire, wound in a helical manner around the same insulators and spaced apart from the first wire, the second wire being positively biased. A gas, disposed within a gas-tight container enclosing the plate, insulators and wires, and capable of stopping alpha and Lithium-7 particles and generating electrons produces a signal on the second wire which is detected and subsequently related to the number of neutrons impinging on the plate.
- Inventors:
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1183351
- Patent Number(s):
- 9046612
- Application Number:
- 13/796,597
- Assignee:
- Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Los Alamos, NM)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01T - MEASUREMENT OF NUCLEAR OR X-RADIATION
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC52-06NA25396
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 46 INSTRUMENTATION RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY; 36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
Citation Formats
Wang, Zhehui, Morris, Christopher L., and Bacon, Jeffrey D. Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector. United States: N. p., 2015.
Web.
Wang, Zhehui, Morris, Christopher L., & Bacon, Jeffrey D. Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector. United States.
Wang, Zhehui, Morris, Christopher L., and Bacon, Jeffrey D. Tue .
"Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1183351.
@article{osti_1183351,
title = {Double helix boron-10 powder thermal neutron detector},
author = {Wang, Zhehui and Morris, Christopher L. and Bacon, Jeffrey D.},
abstractNote = {A double-helix Boron-10 powder detector having intrinsic thermal neutron detection efficiency comparable to 36'' long, 2-in diameter, 2-bar Helium-3 detectors, and which can be used to replace such detectors for use in portal monitoring, is described. An embodiment of the detector includes a metallic plate coated with Boron-10 powder for generating alpha and Lithium-7 particles responsive to neutrons impinging thereon supported by insulators affixed to at least two opposing edges; a grounded first wire wound in a helical manner around two opposing insulators; and a second wire having a smaller diameter than that of the first wire, wound in a helical manner around the same insulators and spaced apart from the first wire, the second wire being positively biased. A gas, disposed within a gas-tight container enclosing the plate, insulators and wires, and capable of stopping alpha and Lithium-7 particles and generating electrons produces a signal on the second wire which is detected and subsequently related to the number of neutrons impinging on the plate.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {2015},
month = {6}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Modular device for the detection of neutrons
patent, October 1976
- Allemand, Robert; Lecuyer, Pierre; Maillot, Jean-Paul
- US Patent Document 3,984,691
Neutron detection based on coincidence signal
patent, October 2008
- Feller, W. Bruce; White, Paul L.; Martin, Adrian
- US Patent Document 7,439,519
Neutron detectors comprising boron powder
patent, May 2013
- Wang, Zhehui; Morris, Christopher L.; Bacon, Jeffrey D.
- US Patent Document 8,445,859